The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-08
sARpoU's DEVOTED WIFE.
How Sardou Was Aided in His Early strug-
giles by His Brave and Devoted Wife.

Writing of Vietorien Sardou, Paris
correspondent of the New York Graphic
says: His students Tavern" pro-
duced at odeon. had proved complete
failure. The young author who had
spent his last sou in waiting for the
hoped-for success. fell dangerously i'll.
At this critical juncture woman. or.
rather, an angel. became interested in
him Her name was Mile. de Brecourt.
She was the daughter of NJ. Leon de
Brecourt, stage manager of the Fohes
Dramatiques. She cared for him like
Sister of Charity, spent entire nights
| at his bedside, and by dint of the ten
derest and most devoted nursing. gave
him back first his health and then his
courage and hope in the future.
Those who have had the pleasure of
meeting Mime Sardon-for such was
Mile. de Brecourt' ) subsequent designa-
tion-agree in the statement that few
women have proved themselves so
good, SO far-seeing, and so brave.
When she was taken from him by death
the dramatist came near also parting
with his senses. 1t was two years be-
fore he again touched his pen. But
her husband was not the only one who
grieved for her. Everybody who knew
her shared in this bereavement.
Nirginie Dejazet in particular could
not forget her bosom friend, for such
Mime. Sardou had been to her 1t was
Mile. de Brecourt who had interested
her in the young author and induced
her to give him chance at her theater.
'.He has talent" said the fair plead
er, land he is SO unhappy OH mad
sme, You have his future in your
hands"
Il am afraid Your advocacy of the
young mans cause is not altogether
disinterested," said Mime Deiazet.
laughingly.
You are right, madame" said the
young girl without blushing; II love
and admire him"
Sardou. although poor, had a little
''den," where he labored assiduously
twelve hours a day. He was now go
| ing through what he called his ECKER
cise.' He read the great works of
Scribe and MeleSville. but would stop
at the end of the fourth act. Then he
would sit down at his desk and write a
| fifth act himself This finished, he
would read the two fifth acts to the
partner of his joys and sorrows with
out telling her which was which. and
| leaving her TO decide who was the au-
thor from internal evidence. Ii is on
record that she often decided that the
denouement imagined by Sardou was
superior to the real denouement by
. Il. i -
would reverse matters and write the
first three acts of play after having
read the last two.
In 1859 Victorien was presented by
his wife to Mile. Virginie Deiazet.
This celebrated artistic had just then
| purchased the Follies Nouvelles and
was about to open it as the Theater
| Deiazet. The actress once said, in re-
ferring to the interview:
'sWhat struck me most in the Young
author was his remarkable resemblance
to Napoleon Bonaparte' He could
talk, and talk well, and the result was
that an arrangement was made by
which Sardou was to write piece for
the opening night of the new enter
prise. 1t proved a success, and was
followed by a second, m. Carat"
which also scored hit. Then came
the elegant comedy that gave its au-
thor distinct place in dramatic litera-
ture, Les Pattes de Mouche,' or, as
it is known on the English stage, "A
Scrap Of Paper
The evolution of the plates" was
a curious one. The manuscript had
been left with the manager of the
Vaudeville, but the latter had never
found the time to read it. Mime. Sar-
| dou, without her husbands ; knowledge,
called on this busy person and brought
the PLATES" away with her. Then
| presenting herself before the lamented
Rose Cheri-at that time the leading
lady of the Gymnase, and one of the
few real actresses your correspondent
ever saw-informed her that her hus-
band was the author of the current sue
cess at the DejaZet, m. Carat" and
that he had written comedy with a
striking female part, which she would
like to leave for the artists perusal.
The latter consenting, the manuscript
was left with the wifc's card. 1t read
as follows: